General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLottery Winner Defends Use of Food Stamps
People love stories about someone winning the lottery and then giving the money away. They're less likely to feel fondly about Amanda Clayton, who won $1 million in the Michigan State Lottery but is still collecting food stamps.
"I thought that they would cut me off, but since they didn't, I thought maybe it was OK because I'm not working," Clayton, 24, told Local 4 news in Detroit.
Back in December, a woman in Washington State fell under scrutiny when it was revealed she was receiving state economic benefits even though she lives in a $1 million waterfront home on Lake Washington.
Clayton, who says she owns two homes and a new car, receives $200 a month in food assistance from the state-issued Michigan Bridge Card, which is meant to benefit lower-income residents in the nation's eigth most economically depressed state.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/michigan-woman-still-collecting-food-stamps-winning-1-201751693.html
Stay classy.
Zalatix
(8,994 posts)Start with the banksters.
This woman is so far down on the priority list it ain't even funny.
Robb
(39,665 posts)That's got to be the take-away.
MidwestTransplant
(8,015 posts)Matariki
(18,775 posts)You you how to read the 'news' correctly.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)lunasun
(21,646 posts)This is what you should really be angry about
This women is the real cause of all our economic problems dont cha know
Zalatix
(8,994 posts)Don't forget those threats!
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)KansDem
(28,498 posts)Around 1980, I believe...
Zalatix
(8,994 posts)She was an elderly Tea Party member who I met at a rally screaming "Don't socialize my Medicare!!!"
sakabatou
(42,202 posts)madinmaryland
(64,934 posts)sadbear
(4,340 posts)They've actually got a face to put with their bullshit assault on the social safety net.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)Zalatix
(8,994 posts)Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)lacrew
(283 posts)Wasn't one of the cornerstones of the healthcare bill supposed to be ending Medicare fraud?
Heck, just a few weeks ago, there was this story: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/14/1064770/-Kudos-to-Obama-Admin-Attack-on-Medicare-Fraud-Recovering-4-1-billion-
Is there something immoral about stopping fraud?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)If that is the case the fact she wasn't working is no reason to continue to collect food assistance. Was she actively looking for work? That should be a requirement for any able-bodied recipient. Further if this is program is means tested then there should be a provision to say that should the recipient's financial situation change within say a 5-10% margin, they are obligated to advise the relevant authority to have their eligibility re-evaluated.
If true this is exactly the kind of stuff that both pisses me off as well as provides fodder for the right wing cannon against programs designed to serve the truly needy.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)There is nothing in this report that says she did or did not report it. It sounds to me this was more of ignorance than an attempt to defraud.
CTyankee
(63,926 posts)Guess I should have known...
MindMover
(5,016 posts)cynatnite
(31,011 posts)In most states you are required to report a change in income, assets, and all that. You have 10 days here in TN. If you do not, you can get in a load of trouble.
If she did report it and the state did nothing, the issue is with the state and not necessarily her.
Not only that, if she was not informed that she was required to report this it may still be on the state. It sounds to me like this was more out of ignorance and not a real attempt to defraud.
Response to Snake Alchemist (Original post)
seaglass This message was self-deleted by its author.
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)I do hope nobody steps up to make an overly intellectualized, overly complicated defense of what she is doing here.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Lottery Winner Defends Use of Food Stamps"
...who care if she "defends" it? It's not like she has any say in being cut from the program now that she's exposed.
(Removed text, misread the piece)
Cut off her assistance and issue the appropriate penalty. End of story.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)"I believe it is her comments that are incredulous."
...me too. She's likely a fraud, just like the story. Still, easy remedy.
Skittles
(153,275 posts)still, Ms Clayton may as well hang onto her food stamps because her mentality makes it clear she will be broke in no time
ProSense
(116,464 posts)joeglow3
(6,228 posts)That money will be long gone in a few years.
libtodeath
(2,888 posts)abuses the program,the answer is to end the program?
BlueIris
(29,135 posts)Normally, I try to refrain from criticizing people who want to eat, but this is way beyond.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)About the best interest rate you can get these days is 1%, so that would give her $5000 of income annually, which isn't a lot. If the food stamp rules are based on income (as opposed to capital), after the first year (in which she would have $1mm of reportable income) she should certainly be eligible for food stamps if she has no other sources of income.
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)Although the rules vary by state, benefits are means tested. You usually won't be forced to sell a modest home, but your car's value is limited to about $2,000 and you can only have a small amount in the bank. Any assets that can be liquidated, like stocks, must be expended as well.
This lady is abusing the system and will have to repay what she has received and could face jail time. Just because the state sends you a money, it is not yours if you don't qualify. For example, if you get unemployment and are then ruled ineligible, you have to pay that money back.
If she didn't report the change in status, it's her fault.
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)Our state recently waived the resource limit for SNAP. There was not a worker I knew who was not in a uproar about it. We knew it would be abused. Also, why some here may feel sympathy for the woman, the same rule applies to anyone. We have seen clients who were contenders for the 1% club who were able to receive benefits precisely because of the waiver of the resource limits.
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)What other states have waivers for resource limits?
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)When I was on food stamps there were alot of rules about what you could and could not have.
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)what she collected.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)Go figure.
dana_b
(11,546 posts)This gets lots of attention and then some, especially those on the right, can whoop and holler that the welfare system is corrupt and should be done away with. I just don't want to feed into their craziness.